Patent GB-190008509-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Wiring the Corks of Bottles.
Inventor: CHAMBERS ROBERT MARTIN
Filed: 1900-05-08
Granted: 1901-05-04
Abstract: 8509. Chambers, R. M., and Chambers, C. E. May 8. Wiring bottles.-Relates to machines of the kind described in Specifications No. 13,803, A.D. 1898, and Nos. 6389 and 13,446, A.D. 1899, for wiring aÙrated-water and other bottles. In the present invention, one of the pivoted gripping-jaws a, between which the bottle is inserted and held before being raised into position for wiring, is connected by an extensible rod g, bell-crank lever f, and rod i to a treadle, the jaws being normally held open by the spring h on the rod i. The treadle is depressed by the operator to close the jaws on the bottle neck. A further depression of the treadle acts through the rod s<2>, lever s', and rod s on the catch block q, disengaging it from the wedging block m, which is then forced upwards by the spring p between inclined faces on the tail ends of the jaws a, to lock the jaws around the bottle neck. The rod s<2> may also act through the connections i<2>, i<1>, &c. on a push-rod adapted, as described in Specification No. 6389, A.D. 1899, to start the machine. When the bottle-lifting bracket ascends, to raise the bottle into position for wiring, the cam &c. v<1> on the bracket operates the lever t to disengage the block m. At the same time, another camoperated lever raises the treadle, which may be further supported by a spring, to release the rod i from the weight of the treadle, so allowing the spring h to open the jaws, to permit the upward passage of the bottle between them to the wiring position. The plunger 2, Figs. 1 and 5, which keeps the cork under pressure during the wiring operation, is actuated through the spring 6 and crosshead 5 by the cam-operated lever 4. The lower end of the plunger has a central extension or blade 9, and two lateral pivoted blades 10, which are held outwards against the guides 12 by the springs 11. When the plunger descends, the blade 9 passes between the two wires above the cork, while the blades 10 pass outside the wires. When the projections 13 on the blades 10 engage the guides 12, the jaws 10 are forced inwards, so gathering the wires above the cork in against the blade 9. The proper length of wire is measured off, independently of the height of the cork, by the cross-piece 16 on the crutch 15. The crutch is normally disengaged from the crosshead 5, and, when the machine is started, it rests on the top wires. When the plunger 2 engages the top of the cork, the spring 6 is compressed, and the collar 8 on the plunger spindle releases the spring-controlled pawl 18 on the crosshead, which then engages a rack on the crutch, and carries the latter down with it to draw off the necessary length of wire. To prevent a backward movement of the wire towards the reels, the wire is passed through a hole 22 in a lever 21, Fig. 1, and over a projecting lip 23 on the lever, which is actuated by a cam &c. to kink the wire and so prevent its return. In an alternative or supplementary arrangement, the kinking is effected by a spring-controlled ball, mounted in a hole drilled in the twisting-spindle at an inclination to the hole through which the wire passes. The ball permits the forward movement of the wire, but jambs and kinks the wire if the latter moves backwards. Fig. 8 shows the arrangement employed to put the requisite tension on the side wires, and to draw up any slackness in them after they have been released by the side hooks. The wire is passed through holes 36 in the strap 35, which is loosely attached to the spring-controlled plunger 34 mounted in the boss of the lever 30. The wire is gripped between the strap 35 and the cross-bar 33, the necessary horizontal movement being imparted to the lever 30 by a cam 31. The grip on the wire is released, as required, by the cam-actuated lever 39 engaging the plunger 34. The levers or arms 50, Fig. 13, for bending the twisted ends of the wires down against the bottle neck, as described in Specification No. 6389, A.D. 1899, are, in the present invention, provided with pivoted extensions 51, which are held in line with the arms by springs. The extensions are connected by links 55 with a cross-link 56, which, on the completion of the movement, engages the fixed stop 57, and draws the extensions inwardly to fold the wires under the collar of the bottle neck.